Hot House

by Lisa Towles

When a former CIA operative and private investigator Mari Ellwyn starts digging into the blackmail case of a federal appellate judge, she becomes targeted by a van following her, threatening notes in her mailbox, and a breach of her home. Teaming up with seasoned investigator and former detective, Derek Abernathy, the crime-savvy pair begin looking into the wrongful death of a mentally-ill college student, Sophie Michaud, as well as two journalists – one dead, one missing, who were writing a story on the dead college student with allegations of her connection to the federal judge. The two investigators must uncover the truth about Sophie Michaud before her killer makes them their next target. But more importantly, Mari needs to find her missing father and reconcile her broken past and family.

282 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2022

About the author

Lisa Towles is an award-winning crime novelist and a passionate speaker on the topics of fiction writing, creativity, and self care. She has eleven crime thrillers in print including Terror Bay - a psychological thriller published in November of 2023. Her previous thriller, Salt Island, was the winner of The BookFest, Pencraft, Readers Choice, Readers Favorite, and Literary Titan awards. The Ridders (November, 2022) won an American Fiction Award, and her psychological thriller Hot House (June 2022) was a #1 Amazon Kindle Bestseller. Lisa is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers and is deeply committed to supporting other writers. She is Board President of a Bay Area nonprofit (Bridgegood.org) and speaks frequently to groups of business leaders and writers about her platform Strategic Self Care. She has an MBA in IT Management and works full-time in the tech industry in the San Francisco Bay area. Learn more at www.lisatowles.com, strategicselfcare.blog, or follow Lisa on social media: linktr.ee/authortowles.

Reviews

[Ana Manwaring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot House is an intricate maze of blackmail, surprise and suspense delivered by quirky characters, pithy dialog and LOL humor. Another hit by my favorite thriller writer, Lisa Towles.
- Ana Manwaring, author of the JadeAnne Stone Mexico Adventures

[Melissa Mackwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the idea of a private investigation team/duo, but the first person point of view helped me connect with Mari, the main character. Smart writing, good pacing, surprisingly funny, and the twist at the end geez I never saw that coming. Looking forward to Book 2 of this series.

[KerryO · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder of a college student. The disappearance of a journalist and the extortion of a federal appellant court judge. All become part of a new case for former CIA operative and current private investigator, Mari Ellwyn. Twists and turn at every stage of the investigation lead to a surprise ending. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Sharon Grow · Rating 4 out of 5]

When former CIA operator Marissa Ellwyn is asked to do a favor for a family friend, an Appellate Court Judge, she has no idea the twist and turns that will take over her case. Mari also owns an art gallery and rotates between curator at her gallery and private investigator. She has an eclectic group of friends that she counts on in her investigative work, including Duga, her mentor and Detective Ivan Dent. Hiring former LAPD detective Derek Abernathy provided her with the sarcastic sidekick that ever P.I. needs (enjoyed their back-and-forth banter). When their case expands to include two missing journalists and a recently murdered college student the threats begin. Notes are left for her and she is attacked in her home. It seems she has also stepped on the toes of her former employer and that is never good. A methodical investigation with many surprises along the way. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

[Rohit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a thriller. I was really impressed by the author Lisa Towles as she wrote the fantastic crime thriller. The author's imagination power is wonderful and she can think deeply. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive scenes which helped paint the story in my mind. The twists and turns of this story built up my appetite for more.

The editing was excellent, and the narration flowed freely. Without a doubt, Hot House has all the hallmarks of a piece written by a talented storyteller. I found myself going back to reread a few chapters just to make sure I didn't miss out on anything. The main characters were well developed and skillfully handled. The cover of the book is interesting which attracts the reader and increases curiosity in them to read this book.

Overall, this book was fantastic and I would highly recommend it to all and especially to those who love crime thrillers.

[Natalka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot House is a thrilling and suspenseful story. Ms. Towles portrayed and developed a very complex supporting character, Derek. Sometimes the supporting characters are overlooked and weak, however not in this case. I've read many of Ms. Towles's books and this one by far, aside from The Ghost of Mary Prairie which is my most favorite, is one of her best, and I would recommend it as an absolute summer read. The ending is defiantly not what you think it's going to be. I wish this was a series.
~Leo (Phoenix, AZ)

[Cindy Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read, my mind formulates what it thinks will be the upcoming plot. Usually it is right.

Not with Hot House.

Lisa Towles uses unique twists and plot lines that keep you waiting, wondering what will happen next. Interaction between the characters keeps things moving. I love how Mari, the main character, lives a double life. So cool to walk that tightrope.

[Ron Kinscherf · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK ... this is my first experience reading one of Lisa's works and I definitely want to read more. It's completely unconventional from others of this genre ... which I find refreshing. The longer I read the more I was hooked. Lot's of unique insights into the thoughts of investigators I hadn't come across. One of the few times where I finished the book and was ticked off as I wanted more!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much going on and all of it good!

Mari is a gallery owner to please her family but private investigation is her real calling now that she has left the FBI. A simple case of a murdered college student quickly spirals into foreign intrigue, multiple law enforcement agencies, an ex-boyfriend, a new partner, and of course, a dog.

Already looking forward to more from Lisa Towles!

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This novel has strong, well developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I recommend this novel and would read more novels by this author. I received a free copy of this book via BookSprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laura Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Towles is incredibly talented at world building. She can whip up detailed, colorful scenery with ease, and this novel serves up a twist that may just be as satisfying as the main character's famed cocktails. Towles' thriller does move quickly which is both a boon and a detriment to the reader. While the book skips along, sometimes the reader can become a bit lost due to the speed that new characters, old flames, and new "legs on octopus" appear. It will be intriguing to see if Towles will ease off the gas in Hot House's follow-up and allow the reader to sink a little deeper into the skins of her characters; thereby luring the reader into a false sense of security before springing another mystery on them.

Fans of thrillers and mysteries should be encouraged to make their literary acquaintance with Lisa Towles.

[Kindlelover 1220 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A suspenseful story with a dash of humor. Unique cast of characters and a great plot. Packed with actions and thrills. The book was written at a smooth pace and it had a surprising twist at the end.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Illustrious Illusions · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, let me say this is a great series kick off and I am looking forward to reading more about these characters. We get a bit of depth on the characters, but there are a lot of things left unanswered there. the mystery/thriller is good, a lot of little pieces and action that carry you through the slower parts of the book.

[David Prestidge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mari E is an LA private investigator,  distinctly low-rent to judge by her business premises, a converted container in a down-at-heel part of the city. Her premises neighbours are mostly scammers and grifters of one kind or another. She is a former government agent. She has been hired by an federal appellate judge to find out who is blackmailing him. Whoever it is wants her off the case and has been threatening her with anonymous notes. She is also certain she is being followed. For back-up she hires a partner, former LAPD detective, and now a PI himself, Derek Abernathy. He is very smart, though, and soon works out that Mari E leads a double life.

"So I have two jobs, what's the big deal? A girl's gotta make a living, right?"
"Jobs? More like lives," he hissed back, pointing outside towards the parking lot.
"Mari E, as you call yourself, drives a fifteen year-old dented Honda and wears a weathered hoodie artificially inseminated with the smell of smoke and vanilla cologne. Mar-ISSA, on the other hand, drives a freaking Porsche and buys her eight-hundred-dollar Ferragamo shoes in Beverly Hills, which she wears to her Culver City art gallery!"

That is just a quick sample of the whip-crack dialogue in the book, which fizzles and sparks like electricity across terminals. Very soon Mari and Derek realise that the blackmailed judge is also connected to the unsolved murder of a French duel-passport student, Sophie Michaud, and the fate of two women journalists who investigated the case, one of whom is dead and the other missing.

Mari has her own crusade, which is related to her being shot while on a case twelve months or so previously. Her father resolved to take his own revenge on the European crime boss responsible, but neither has been seen since. She realises that if she can discover who killed Sophie, the rest of house of cards will come tumbling down. Big problem, though. She discovers that Sophie was not just one person. Yes, physically she was one body, but psychologically two separate beings lived under that particular roof, and were even known by different names - Sophie and Sasha. One was a dreamy and talented creative artist, while the other was a calculating sexual schemer who used information about potential blackmail victims with the ruthless logic of a criminal Marie Kondo.

Good crime writers can be lyrical when they need to be, and if there were any doubt that LIsa Towles is a genuine California Girl, this passage dispels it.

"There were some places where the quality of the light is always good, and others where it's never quite right. Too bright to see an incoming text, too dark to find your keys in the bottom of your bag. Besides California, I'd lived in three other states, and somehow the light in LA had a quality that didn't exist anywhere else. Sometimes the sun was so high and bright, it bled out all detail leaving a luminous silvery cloak over the sand and surf. Then at dusk, that same beachfront hides in climbing shadows, with only small details visible beneath the streetlamps. It was the unsinkable promise of light and dark that anchored me to this place, this stretch of rugged coastline with its seagulls and secrets."


In the end, the blackmailer of the judge is located, and the killer of Sophie/Sasha is brought to justice, but with literally the last sentence, Lisa Towles poses another puzzle which will presumably be addressed in the next book. Hot House is everything a California PI novel should be. It has pace, great dialogue, totally credible characters and a pass-the-parcel mystery where Lisa Towles has great fun describing how Ellwyn and Abernathy peel back the layers to get to the truth. Sure, the pair might not yet stand shoulder to shoulder with Marlowe, Spade and Archer, or even more modern characters like Bosch and Cole, but they have arrived, and something tells me they are here to stay.

Hot House is published by Indies United Publishing House, LLC, and will be available in the UK as a Kindle, audiobook and hardback from 15th June. The paperback was published in March.

[Dahlia Duval · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may have demolished my record for notes and highlights in my Kindle app in a good and bad way. Let me start by saying I enjoyed this book immensely. The story is seamless, engaging, and twisted. I laughed, I gasped, I just had a great time reading this. One of my notes reads “I’m not getting any sleep tonight” because I couldn’t put it down. The writing was artful in the way it weaved the puzzle pieces together in this intricate mystery.

Hot House by Lisa Towles tells the story of Marissa, an ex-CIA agent who couldn’t quite put that life behind her. Splitting her time between her art gallery and being a private investigator, Marissa takes on the blackmail case of a federal Judge in hopes of stopping the threats he’s been receiving. In doing so she seeks a partner in Derek, an ex-detective, and together they uncover the story of Sophie Michaud, a local student who was murdered. The cases become intertwined; the pieces of the puzzle weaving together in unimaginable tragedy.

There were so many things to love about this novel, but I did have some issues. The formatting is rough. The beginning of the book needs to be clearer, or people are going to discount it for the confusion and move on. It does start a bit slow but once it starts, the ride is quite fun. I appreciated the shorter chapters; they kept the flow of the story moving and didn’t leave the reader in suspense for too long.

I am disappointed that I still cannot tell you want the characters looked like. There is imagery within the novel, but the physical descriptions of the characters ended with tall. I needed more. The main character came across as wimpy at times which is an odd trait for someone trained by the CIA. It doesn’t track. There were a few confusing or incorrect sentences. I think one more edit of this would make it a nearly perfect novel.

I would highly recommend anyone who likes crime/mystery/suspense novels to pick this up. It is worth the read!

[Jessica Rigsby · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Change the balance of power and you can change everything.” -Hot House

Hello there, my name is Mari Ellwyn, I am a former CIA agent, currently the owner of an art gallery and playing private investigator. After taking a case for Judge Conrad McClaren, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, I started being followed and threatened. Therefore, I decided I needed a partner, cue former detective Derek Abernathy. Upon discussion, we realized that our investigations coincided with each other, involving a college student battling a mental illness who was murdered, one murdered journalist, and a missing journalist. Can we solve this entangled web before becoming targets ourselves?

Lisa Towles does a satisfying job taking the reader on a suspenseful, action-packed thrill ride. The punchy storyline led to snarky and sarcastic banter, which I love in a novel. The characters were witty, likable, and engaging making this novel a page-turner. I enjoyed the storyline of the college student, finding her struggles with mental illness both intriguing and educational. The ending leaves you wanting to read the second book immediately, unfortunately having to wait for its release.

Despite Hot House being a great crime read, I found it difficult to differentiate, at times, who was speaking, making it difficult to follow along. Furthermore, all the information dumped at the beginning of the book made it increasingly difficult to figure out what was going on at first. For these reasons, I rate this book 3 stars and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genres of crime and mystery.

Content/Trigger Warnings: mental health issues, suicide, depression, murder, threats, sexism, and stalking

[Shayla Bisson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The opening chapter at first was a great start. The first line dragged you in, but then I felt like it was an info dump without any real info. It’s a little reeling how we kind of jump so many topics in such a little amount of time, yes it leaves me with questions I want to read on to find answers to, but more than that it just didn’t feel like it flowed well.

The narration of the main character also feels choppy, the second chapter conversation was not satisfying at all. However the minor details of the space thrown in does give a pretty good mental picture. It felt like too many details on the space and not enough details in the conversation, I didn’t feel like either character was introduced well or set up for me to be interested in either back story.

The details that are being shared just feel like the wrong details, not necessarily the ones I want or need to set the story or mood. The narrator makes observations that Dont get backup or hinted at through descriptions of the surroundings or of the person speaking, which again throws off the flow of the story.

The whole thing feels very choppy like a movie constantly having cut scenes to a whole new theme, it leaves you reeling and asking questions in not a good way I found, for me at least. The short chapters didn’t help with the choppiness.

I honestly did not enjoy this book at all which was a disappointment after being so intrigued but the description. It was just way too all over the place without any of the character, scene or plot building.

[George Cramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot House by Lisa Towles is a page-turner. Beginning with the prologue, which intrigued me, I needed to find answers. Need I say more? Not really, but here goes.

The first paragraph asks at least three questions, beginning with who is this main character, someone possibly as clumsy as me. It took a few subtle hints before I realized this person was a woman and the second protagonist a man. Towles does an excellent job introducing these two characters and all the secondary participants in this thriller. We learn enough in a few short pages to establish a kinship with these two that only grows. This ability to define roles continues throughout the story, except for the many other characters. I only care for two. Despite my antipathy for the other characters, none are left in need of development.

Raised in Southern California, I recognize the settings in a way that reminds me of how Raymond Chandler worked Los Angeles into a supporting cast member in his stories. Towles uses this and dialogue to place the reader easily in the time and place of Hot House.

The male protagonist, Derek, is both a comfort and an enigma. Within pages, I trusted him to be an essential contributor to Mari’s success and wellbeing, yet Towles refuses to divulge his secrets. I kept looking for the answers, but they remained hidden. This did not leave me dissatisfied. I was left with the knowledge (belief) that when Derek’s secrets are revealed in future books, I will not be disappointed in the man.

The twists never stop coming in Hot House. Danger is always steps away from Mari. Get the book!

[Amys Bookshelf Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Towles writes a compelling thriller with Hot House.

In Hot House the reader is brought into the lives of investigators Mari and Derek, who run a PI firm. Mari also owns an art gallery, and Derek is a former homicide detective. Another great story from Lisa Towles. Hot House is part of the E&A Investigations Thriller Series, and this is volume one. I actually read the third book, Switch, first, and enjoyed it so much, that I had to go back and read the first two. Towles creates great characters, with depths and layers, and then, entering Sasha and Sophie, as bringing death and trauma to this story. This brings extra layers to the plot, that is woven so well by this author. I really enjoyed this story, and like the way that the twists and turns, and the next page, and the one after that shows a great tapestry of murder, blackmail, and espionage. Towles definitely has the skills to write such in depth, and emotional characters, and layers of plots and subplots. What a captivating story. This story is absolutely thrilling, with twists on every page turn. The author's technique of raw, magnetic characters and great plotlines is a gift. Hot House is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, be kind, and write a review.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to the hot house where there is a maze of blackmail and suspense . Nothing good happens when you have to start investigating the blackmail of an appellate judge . But that is what ex cia agent Mari Ellywn has to do . Weigh her way through the quagmire while becoming the target of someone in a van , the threatening notes that are left in her mailbox. When someone breaks into her house it is time to join forces with former detective Derek Abernathy and together they work their way through the wrongful deaths . Sophie Michaud is a student who is mentally ill and she is murdered along with two journalists . They are going to find out what happened before the killer takes them down .

This is one of those books that will keep you interested and on the edge of you seat most of the way through. The author does a good job of painting a gritty landscape for her characters to work in . The characters are well written and complex . I loved the concept of the story and the characters only there were some parts that well just felt choppy especially with the lead females story line . There was also a lot of info dropping through out the book . Over all enjoyed the book and can't wait to see where the author takes the characters in a second book . So if you want a good mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat and also laughing out loud . Check it out and add it to your summer reading list .

[H Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Towles has launched what promises to be a fast-paced and lively detective series under the banner of E&A Investigations. Her central characters are well developed and have just the right misaligned chemistry to keep the character development side of future stories as lively as the mysteries the pair will solve together. Marissa Ellwyn, or E. Mari depending on where you cross paths with her, is a former CIA operative hiding her investigation practice behind the working facade of an upscale art gallery, Derek Abernathy is a former detective with the Los Angeles police department, who just happens to have a professional past with one of Marissa's past flames. They join forces to sort out how the blackmail of a Federal judge, one dead and one missing journalists, and the murder of the daughter of a French diplomat are intertwined. The plot is plausible in its twists and turns and the pace of the book is like reading on a roller coaster, not a wasted sentence or distracting subplot. The one subplot, what became of Marissa's father after a shootout during a previous investigation, even proves to play a part in the case this pair have taken on. There is plenty to look forward to in future installments of this series!

[Lucy Takeda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met this author at a local library function. I have a limited gore tolerance, so I purchased this novel because it sounded that it met my limits. A female main character that runs an art gallery and a PI business? Excellent!
This was an okay read. I’m not sure what was wrong. There were certainly smoke plot twists. I’ve read another mystery series featuring a Great Dane that I enjoyed. In this story, the dog seems to exist just as a sideline; it doesn’t do much, except ask for food or walks. Mari appears to have all these pretty hot guys protecting and assisting her. Duka was very interesting, but there was limited background on him.
Mari is operating her agency mostly to try to locate her father, who disappeared. She gets involved in a case where two young female investigative reporters are found dead, strangled, on a beach. She hires a man to act as back up, while contacting the mysterious Duka, who seems to be a ninja master. I should have been completely intrigued. I wasn’t.

[Namita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first time I have read this author and I can honestly say that I enjoyed her style of writing.

Hot House is the first book in the E&A Investigations series. I went in blind and was pleasantly surprised. The fact that this is a series and I’m going to keep reading about the fabulous cast of characters.

The mystery is solid. It teases with a bit of espionage and intelligence which in turn made it a great read!!

Mari and Derek are our two MCs and one is a LAPD detective (former) and Mari is not only a former CIA but also owns an art gallery.

The two were really good partners and had each other’s backs. Add in a great mix breed named Trevor, a Jack of all trades Buddhist Monk Duga and it’s pretty cool.

An absolutely solid 3.5⭐️ read for me!! Rounded up to 4⭐️

If you want to meet these characters, I suggest you grab a copy when this book is available.

Thank you NetGalley and Indies United Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[(Grace) Kentucky Bohemian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I'm a Snob
So, I don't usually pick up audiobooks that only have 6 reviews. That usually just means the author has 6 friends, right? But I stumbled upon the ebook version of the second book in this series, "Salt Island" and loved it. So, I backed up to find out what I'd missed.

For me, this book wasn't quite as good as the second, but that's not unexpected for a little-known author. In fact, for me that shows the author is getting her feet under her. I'm glad I backed up to catch this first story since it helps with the character development and backstories. Even if it wasn't quite as good as book two, it was still well-written and full of intrigue, suspense, wit, and thrills. I'm definitely in for book three. These characters are dynamite-- separately they're all like damaged toys that need to be "rehomed." Together, they are a force to be reckoned with. They're snide, smart, intuitive, strong, and kind of a bubble off plumb. Well worth my time.

[J.W. Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Towels’ Hot House is a wonderfully crafted mystery with excellent use of dialogue. It illuminates what happens and cloaks the clues in a way reminiscent of Agatha Chrisie but with a more modern spin. The story is captivating, and while the reader is living through the story, the information Marissa collects in such a manner that you don’t realize what you know until Marissa recapitulates to her partner. Her mastery of description, sprinkled throughout, presents casual images for a crystal-like visualization of the scenes. Ms. Towels’ artful use of pacing draws the reader into and through the action, living the plot with her characters as she artfully puts the pieces together.
Hot House is an excellent read and I recommend this treasure. Five stars!

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot House is a complex mystery read with humor, blackmail, secrets and plenty of suspense! The character development was done really well! They were fun and yes odd at times but it was great to get to get to know them! The descriptions are vivid making it easy to see what's going on! I loved the humor! There's some great twists and turns and an ending I didn't see coming! The writing is fantastic! The author knows how to spin a fantastic mystery! Overall it was a great read! I wish it was going to be a series!

Thank you Silver Dagger Book Tours and Lisa Towles for sharing this book with me!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

You need to have time when you start this book!

When I bought this book it was the recommendation of my son -he knows Ms. Towels. So, at bed time I bought on line and settled in to read until I got sleepy. I had to force myself to put my Kindle down! Wow!
So good! Fast moving, smart and intriguing! And, she doesn’t let up, even on the last page!
Here I go off to Amazon for book 2!

[Jennie Rosenblum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was into this story by the second chapter. The main character, Mari, kept me guessing, and her interactions with others kept things interesting as well as set a wonderful pace. Mari and her new partner Derek have a good chemistry and I look forward to more books with both. This was a lighter physiological thriller with a few small surprises which made it the perfect vacation read.

[Kathy Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of this book I was given for an honest review. There were parts of this book I enjoyed it just didn’t hold my attention all that well. Some parts were over the top and other chapters were a little amusing. I think I am just more into thrillers .

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing mystery. I especially enjoyed the locale as I am familiar with it. Interesting and unusual characters. Clever and strange mystery that kept me guessing. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.